Washing machine



H. F. SNYDER WASHING MACHINE Sept. lll, 1934,

2 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed June 14. 1922 Sep@ M1934. H, F SNYDER mugs WASHING MACHINE `original Filed June 14. 1922 2 sheets-smet 2 atented Sept.` 1l, 1934 y iran imno

OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Howard F. Snyder, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, lowa, a corporation of Delaware Serial No'. 202,4??

e claims. (ci. fis-i5) This invention relates to washing machines and particularly that type of power machines having a driven agitator within, and a driven wringer mechanism above the tub, in combination with driving mechanism for transmitting power to the driven elements; for example, as shown in my copending applications Serial No. 568,158, filed June li, 1922, Patent No. 1,866,779, July 12, 1932 and Serial No. 477,888, filed June 16, 1921, Patent No. 1,644,959, Oct. 11-, 1927, the present application being a division of said application Serial No. 568,158, and a continuation in part of said application Serial No. 477,888.

In the [prior machines the comparatively massive and cumbersome. gearing mechanism for driving the agitatorwithin the tub and the wringto all the strains and hardships incident' thereto.

In the operation of such machines, as in all power operated washing machines, considerable vibration takes place. This vibration has a tendency to cause the parts to become loose and materially weaken and shorten jthe life not only of the tub itself, but the driving or gearing mechanism. Moreover, such machines were unbalanced or tophe'avy, that is, the heavy gearing or driving mechchines carrying the comparatively heavy driving mechanism, it necessarily required that the tub be comparatively rigid and` heavy and it was impractical to utilize light, thin material, such as aluminum and the lilse.- My present invention' overcomes all of these'inherent disadvantages and objections of the old machines'and is designed and arranged so as to provide commercially, tubs of light, thin material, such as aluminum with its many inherent advantages.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in a motor driven Washing machine ofthis type a unitary, self-supported, counter-balanced, vertically arranged gearing and` driving mechanism for the power actuated members of the tub, which mechanism in turn forms a continuation vof one of the supports or legs for the tub, entirely relieving the tub of the Weight and strains in' cident to the gearing mechanism, the variable expansion and contractionof the parts under different climatic conditions, and the vibration set up by the motor.

It is a further object to provide in a washing machine of this type a self-supported, counterbalanced, vertically arranged driving mechanism extending above and below the tub in spaced relation thereto and adapted to support the tub and the wringer above the tub, so as to permit the wringer to be swung entirely `free of and away from the tub. i y

It is a further object of my invention to provide a washing machine of this type with a self-contained motor and driving mechanism disposed in a supporting frame in the most advantageous positions to insuregelective and eoonxnical operation, said. frame being constructed in a manner to capably support the weight of the parts and to odset the overbalancing effect of unequal distribution of said weight. Y v

It is a further object of my invention to provide in a machine of this type a unitary, self-contained driving and gearing mechanism mounted in axial alignment on its own support, said mechanism beingv preferably spaced from and' attached to the y relation with at leastI two side edges of the tub.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in' a machine of this type a self-supported, substantially counter-balanced gearing and driving mechanism adapted to, drive an element within the tub from below and a second element above the tub yand at the same time form one of the supports for the tub.

Another object resides in supporting the tub from a plurality of legs one of which is odset from the tub body and on which `the vertical wringer drive shaft, and the wringer which swings axially `about such shaft, `are directly mounted thereby relieving the tub body of all weight and operating strain of this added mechanism, so that a comparatively light tub may be used.

v.Still another object resides in providing, in addition to the foregoing, a substantially recytangularirame or bracket rigidly connecting the bottom of the three tub legs and forming a support for the motor or other prime mover, which rectangular frame is formed with an angular extension projecting beyond the plane of the tub wall -and 4rigidly connectedto and bracing the tub leg which supports the gear casings and driving' connections from the motor to the moving parts.

The above and other features of novelty, ad-

vantages and capabilities will become apparent from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one form of my invention, but the construction there shown is to be understood as illustrative only and not as defining the limits of my invention.

In the drawings Fig. l is a side sectional view of my improved washing machine.

Fig.A 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig; l, and

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In general my washing machine comprises a tub of desired shape made of relatively light metal, such' as copper or aluminum and having a liquid impeller thereintogether with a wringer located above the tub and constructed and arranged to be swung into any desired position across and above the top of the tub and parallel to either of two adjacent sides thereof or if desired to swing entirely clear and away from the tub. In addition there is a prime mover disposed below the tub and ower driving connections from the prime mover to the liquid impeller and to the wringer or other actuated devices, and means for supporting the tub, the power driving mechanism, and the wringer so that the weight and vibrations of the former are removed from the tub body and are borne by one of the tub supporting legs, and preferably by disposing one of the legs in direct vertical alignment with the vertical axis of the wringer drive shaft which constitutes the axis about which the swinging wringer pivots and which forms part of the power driving connections. n

In the form of my invention shown, the` tub 2 has three legs disposed preferably directly under and at three of the corners of the tub. Each leg comprises a rigid metallic section 4 made somewhat tubular inform at its lower portion, to telescopically receive the caster extensions 6 which are slidably clamped therein and-form part of the legs for 'the purpose of adjusting the height of the washing machine. The-extensions are held in adjusted position by means of set screws 8.

At the fourth corner, offset or to one side of the tub and preferably spaced therefrom, I arrange a unitary, self-supported, counter-balanced, vertically disposed gearing and driving mechanism` for the power actuated members of the tub, which mechanism in turn forms the remaining support i or leg for the tub, thereby entirely relieving the tub of the weight and strains incident to the gearing mechanism as hereinbefore pointed out. This unitary structure comprises the stub leg 1o of preferably tubular section in which telescopingly fits the section 12 carrying the caster extension. The upper portion of this stub legis formed with two laterally extending ears or lugs 14 which provide ai support upon which is mounted a gear casing 16 enclosing a part of the driving mechanism whichj is actuated bya suitable motor or prime mover. Said driving mechanism includes a relatively short driving shaft 18 rotatively mounted in said casing 16, in direct axialalignment with tlie stub leg. Secured to said shaft is a worm wheel 1'1 actuated by driven means such as a worm shaft mounted in the casing 16 and rotated in suitable manner by the motor. A vertically disposed driven shaft 20 is spaced from and in direct axial alignment with the first mentioned short shaft 18'.v There is also provided any suitable type of driving connection from the shaft 18 to the liquid impeller. In the form illustrated such driving connection comprises the divided between shaft 20 and the driven shaft 30, so that vthe driven shafts are independently connected with said driving mechanism. The driven shaft 20 which constitutes the usual vertically disposed wringer drive shaft passes upwardly through the top 34 of the gear casing and is surrounded with a tubular casing 36 which nests at its lower end on a seat 38 formed in the top of the casing. This upper portion of the casing in turn is provided with a bracket or extension 40 which is connected to and forms a support for the tub, sothat the tub at this point is supported from the stub leg 10. In addition the upper portion of the tubular casing 36 is held in spaced relation from the wall of the tub by an additional bracket 42. The upper end of the vertical wringer driving shaft is detachably connected to the wringer head 44 which contains reversing gearing for the wringer rolls. This head is formed with a depending sleeve 46 which telescopes over the tubular casing 36 and is detachable therefrom. By means. of this arrangement the wringer 48 is swingably mounted to pivot about the vertical drive shaft 20 as an axis while at the same time driven therefrom. As thus mounted, thewringer may be swung parallel to either of two sides of the tub, if the tub be square, orto a position away from and entirely removed from the tub. In using a tub of square dimensions I prefer to space the vertical wringer shaft 20 from the wall of the tub 2 as illustrated clearly in Figure 1 of the drawings, so that the drain water from the wringer, in either position of the wringer adjacent either side of the tub, will drain directly into the opening of the tub.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the two vertical shafts, the short shaft 18 carrying the horizontal -woi'm gear, and the upper relatively long wringer drive' shaft 20 in vertical alignment therewith, and particularly in vertical alignment with the stub leg 10, and the symmetrically arranged driving connections and casings 16 on each side of this'axial line, provide a balanced construction which not only removes the weight of the ponderous parts from the light tub 2 but also receives the direct downward thrust and weight of the wringer 48 and of the rather heavy wringer head 44. In this manner the direct thrust and weight of these parts is carried downwardly to the stub leg 10. Thus all weight, stresses and vibrations incident to operation are entirely removed from the tub body so that it is now possible to construct the tub of relatively light metal and particularly of a metal that will withstand the corrosive and destructive effects of washingliquids.

The stub leg 10 is braced firmly at its lowermost portion by means of a rectangular, substantially diamond-shaped frame 50,. which rigidly connects to the other three legs v4 and which frame is provided at one corner with an extension 52 placed in opposed relation to the frame and which extension is connected to the stub leg. In other 'words .this extension'52'is in line with the diagonal passing substantially through the center of the frame 5,0, which center substantially coincides with the-axial line of the liquid impeller shaft 32, and this diagonal line has on its opposite sides two tub supporting legs 4, the other two tub supwith its gearing drive and casings.

and the vgearing 17 and casing 16.

porting legs being placed directly on this diagonal line and one of these latter legs is the stub leg 10. In theform shown and described herein I prefer to form this' diamond-shaped member as a horizontal shelf or bracket provided at three of its corners with. upstanding semi-tubular connections 54 adapted to fit the exterior walls of the legs and securely fastened thereto by the bolts 8. The remaining corner which constitutes the extension likewise has an upstanding connection 56 to the stub leg 10. In this manner the stub leg is braced at its bottom and is positioned in rigid offset relation to the' tub wall. In the present construction the motor 58 is detachably mounted on a board or bracket 60. which in turn is s uitably fastened to the bracing member 50. 'Ihe motor is preferably placed on the bracing memer or otherwise to assist in balancing the lateral load of the vertical drive shaft 20, the wringer 48 It will be noted that the line of reciprocation of the toothed pitman 24 driving the liquid impeller is closely adiacent and nearly in line with a line passing through one of the legs 6 of the washing Amachine and the stub leg 10, and that the remaining two legs 4 are balanced on each side of ythis diagonal thereby providing' a most effective which is symmetrically 'related to 'the intersection of the two diagonal lines joining the three legs'4 and the stub leg 10 and that the motor 58 is placed in a position to assist in balancing the lateral load of the unitary, laterally disposed combined stub leg and vertical wringer drive shaft This construction provides a most effective balancing arrangement for the washing machine so that vibrational strains and stresses and tendency of the machine to tip over are reduced to the minimum.

The details of construction and further description of the various features shown in these drawings, for example, the liquid impeller, its mounting in the tubbottom, the tub itself, the gearing and gear casings, the drive from the impeller to the vertical wringer drive shaft, the soap injector 62` and the wringer mechanism are fully set forth and claimed in various copending applications filed by me and are therefor not clescribed further in detail herein.

It will be evident from the foregoing specification that I have provided an arrangement by which the driving mechanism 17, the casing 16 and the driven shaft 20, which are al1 located outside of the vertical plane of the nearest vertical wall or corner of the tub are supported by the stub shaft which is positioned beneath them and also outside of the same plane. In other words, thisprovides a most advantageous means for supporting the wringer mechanism and heavy parts directly from their own supporting leg in such a manner that this same leg also firmly supports .the tub but without detracting from the pleasing appearance and symmetrical lines and ruggedness of the tub support. By means of this same construction I am able to eliminate from the tub the usual vibrational strains and stress set up by the motor, the alternatereciprocations of the liquid impeller and theswinging of the wringer into various operative positions. rThis construction permits the use of a light, aluminum yalloy forthe tub since ruggedness is not needed for supporting the heavy vibrating driving parts.

Likewise by means of the hereindescribed construction, the legs are suitably braced at three points, the lowermost bracing member forming a support for the motor, the intermediate brace not only forming a support for the tub but reactively bracing the leg and gearing casings at this point, and the uppermost brace serving to space thev tubular casing from the tub. In addition by means of my improved construction I am enabled to mount the motor so as to substantially counter-balance the lateral weight of the vertical wringer shaft and the wringer; this is accomplished by mounting the motor on the basal support at the side thereof opposite the stub leg. It will be further evident that I have provided a self-contained unit adapted to be attached to the tub, which unit carries in a vertical line, the stub leg, the gearing and gear casings, the vertical wringer drive shaft and the wringer head carrying the swinging wringer and that this selfcontained unit when attached to the tub not only relieves the tub of the necessity of supporting the various components of the unitv but also forms a support for the tub.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim:-

l. In a washing machine, a tub, supporting means for the tub, 'said supporting means including a leg member located in a vertical plane offset from'the vertical plane of the adjacent portion of said tub, means connecting said offset leg member with said tub, a ydriving shaft rotatably supported by said leg member, a rotatably supported driven shaft in axial alignment with the driving shaft. but with one end spaced from the adjacent end of the driving shaft, power means constructed and arranged to actuate the driving shaft, an operating member connected to the adjacent ends of said driving and driven shafts, and a second driven shaft extended into the tub and connected with said operating member.

2. In a washing machina' a tub, supporting means for the tub, said supporting means including a stub-leg located in a vertical plane offset from the vertical plane of the adiacent portion of said tub, said stub-leg being provided with a floorengaging portion, a casing connecting the stubleg with said tub, a driving shaft rotatably supported in axial alignment with said stub-leg, a driven shaft in axial alignment'with the driving shaft, but with one end spaced from the adjacent end of the driving shaft, means within said casing constructed and arranged to actuate the driving shaft, an operating member also located in said casing and connected to the adjacent ends of said shafts, and a second driven shaft extended into the tub and connected with said operating member.

3. In a washing machine, a tub, supporting means for the tub, said means including a legmember located in a vertical plane offset from the exterior of the tub, said leg member being provided with floor-engaging means, means connecting said leg-member with said tub, a driving shaft supported in axial alignment with said offset legmember, a driven shaft in axial alignment with .the driving shaft but with one end spaced from the adjacent end of the driving shaft, means constructed and arranged to actuate said driving shaft, an operating member connecting the adjacent ends of said shafts, a frame rigidly secured to said supporting means and having an offset extension projected to a position beyond the vertical plane of the exterior of the tub, and engaging said offset leg-member, and a second driven shaft yirs extended into said tub and connected with said operating member.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, a driven shaft extended vertically into the tub, supporting means for the tub including a plurality of main legs beneath the tub and a single stub-leg positioned in a vertical plane outside of the tub, all of said legs f the tub, and means connecting said stub-leg with the other legs.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, a vertically disposed driven shaft located within the tub, support means for the tubrincluding a plurality of main legs beneath the tub and a stub-leg positioned outside of the tub in a plane spaced from the Wall of the tub and occupying a position in an imaginary line extended from one of the main legs through the axis of the driven shaft, the other main legs being spaced on opposite sides of said line, a driving shaft rotatably supported in axial alignment with said stub-leg, driving mechanism connecting the driving shaft and the driven shaft in such manner that the driven shaft is actuated by the driving shaft and a motor supported by said legs and so positioned With respect to the stub-leg as to counterbalance the Weight upon said stub-leg.

6. In a washing machine, a tube, support mean for the tube including a plurality of main legs located beneath the tub and a stub-leg located in a plane outside of and spaced from the tub, all ,of said legs having floor-engaging means, a drive shaft rotatably supported in axial alignmentwith said stub-leg, a driven shaft extended vertically into the tub and arranged parallel with the axis of the drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft with said driven shaft in such manner that the driven shaft is actuated by the drive shaft, and a casing connecting said stub-leg and said tub and enclosing said drive shaft, said casing and said stub-leg being so constructed and arranged as to form one of the supports for the tub, said stub-leg Voccupying a position located in an imaginary line extended from one of the main legs through the axis of the driven shaft, the other main legs being equally spaced on opposite sides of said line.

7. In a washing machine, a tub, support means for the tub including a plurality of main legs located beneath the -tub and a stub-leg located in a plane outside of and spaced from the tub,

all of said legs having nooit-engaging means, a casing secured to the exterior of the tub and also secured to the stub-leg, said casing and said stub-leg being so constructed and arranged as to provide one of the supports for the tub, a drive shaft rotatably supported in'axial alignment with said stub-leg, a driven shaft extended vertical-A ly" into the tub and arranged -parallel with the axis of the drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft with said driven shaft in such manner that the driven shaft is actuated by the drive shaft, said drivenshaft and said connecting means being locatedfwithin said casing, said casing being constructed and arranged as to enclose said drive shaft, said stub-leg occupying a position located vin an imaginary line extended from one of the main legs through the axis of the driven shaft, the other main legs being equally spaced on Vopposite sides of said line.

8. In a washing machine, a tub, a driven shaft extended vertically into the tub, support means for the tub including a plurality of main legs located beneath the tub and a stub-leg located outside of the tub, all of saidlegs having `floor-engaging means, a frame member located below 'the tub and having an extension projecting a substantial distance beyond the vertical plane of y the tuband engaging said stub leg, said extension being projected along an imaginary line extended from one of the main legs through the axis of the driven shaft, the other main legs be-` ing equally spaced on opposite sides of said line, said frame member being also connected with the main legs, a drive shaft rotatably supported in axial alignment with said stub-leg, means conll@ necting said drive shaft with said driven shaft in such manner that the driven shaft is actuated by the drive shaft, and means for actuating said drive shaft.

9. In a washing machine, a tub, a driven shaft A extended vertically into the tub,` a drive shaft located outside of the tub, driving mechanism outside of the tub operatively connecting said shafts, a driven actuator for the drive shaft also located outside of the tub, a second driven shaft located in alignment with the drive shaft, a driving connection between the drive shaft and the last mentioned driven shaft in such manner that the driven shaft is actuated by the driving shaft, support means for the tub consisting of a plurality of main legs beneath the tub and a stubleg in a vertical plane offset from the exterior of the tub and axially aligned with the drive ishaft and the second driven shaft, and in an imaginary line extended Ifrom one of the main legs through the axis of the first mentioned driven shaft, the other main legs being equally spaced on opposite sides of 'said line, all of said legs being provided with floor-engaging portions. 

